Kidnapped Scot savours freedom

Alistair Taylor called for some privacy to readjust

A Scottish oil worker who was held hostage in the Colombian jungle for almost two years has arrived back in UK.

Alistair Taylor flew into Aberdeen Airport via London on Monday with his brother Charlie, on the final leg of his emotional journey home.

He looked relaxed as he stepped off a chartered plane at the airport and waved to waiting reporters before being taken to the main terminal building.

The 47-year-old, who was kidnapped by the armed group the National Liberation Army or ELN on 27 August, 1999, said: "I feared for my life, for 680 days."

Mr Taylor who looked tired but fit, was accompanied by his brother, Charlie, who appealed to the media to let the family "settle back down".

Alistair Taylor: "I have lost two years of my life"

He was reunited with his Colombian wife, Martha Valencia, and four-year-old son, Alecito. The family were planning to spend the night at their home in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

At the airport, Mr Taylor said that after tasting freedom the most important thing was to get to know his family again after his period in captivity, and there are "a million things" he wants to do as a free man.

He said: "I have lost two years of my life and everything is strange so it's just going to take a bit of time.

"That's why I would appreciate it if you would give me a bit of space because it's going to be hard. Just coming back and getting to know everybody again, you know.

"My son was two-and-a-half, now he's four-and-a-half, so it's going to take a little while."

Mr Taylor was taken hostage while working for Texas-based oil firm Weatherford.

He was released on Friday and flown to the South American capital Bogota, where he spent the weekend at the British ambassador's residence

The rebels had reportedly asked for $3m for Mr Taylor's release.

However, the British Ambassador, Jeremy Thorp, refused to comment on reports that a ransom had been paid.

Mr Taylor said he knew nothing about reports of a ransom.

The easiest way to describe my time there is to say it was like Groundhog Day

Alistair Taylor

Speaking about his release, he said: "I was told, 'Come with me'. I thought we were moving between two camps.

Mr Taylor likened his experience in captivity to the film Groundhog Day, where a man becomes trapped in a time warp in which the same events happen every day.

He said: "The easiest way to describe my time there is to say it was like Groundhog Day. It was frightening at times, but I just had to sit it out and wait. That's all I could do.

"One thing they told me was that they had all the time in the world. I got through it with determination and stubbornness.

"It feels very good to be back. It just feels so nice. I'd like to thank everyone at the British Embassy, who helped get me back and organised everything.

"I was treated very well. They were very careful with me. I feared for my life for 680 days."

Alistair Taylor is looking forward to an emotional family reunion

The Briton was abducted by guerrillas of the Domingo Lain Front of the ELN as he arrived for work near the town of Yopal in the oil-rich province of Casanare.

In April of this year, a video recording by freelance journalist Karl Penhaul was screened by the BBC, confirming Mr Taylor's existence in the jungle.

Foreign Office spokeswoman Katie Parker said Mr Taylor's 13-hour flight from Bogota to London Gatwick via Caracas had been funded by his oil company which was reported to have been involved in negotiations with his captors.

Mr Taylor's brother Charlie said: "We are very glad to be back and we look forward to being reunited with the family."